The Senecio Research Network

Background

The plant genus Senecio comprises approximately 1,000 species and is increasingly used in research on plant adaptation and evolution. The genus includes leaf, stem and tuber succulents, annuals, perennials, aquatics, climbers, shrubs and small trees. Some species produce natural biocides (especially alkaloids) to deter or even kill animals that would eat them, and several species are notable weeds of agriculture and horticulture (e.g. Senecio vulgaris), while others are successful invaders of pastures, wasteground and roadsides (e.g. S. inaequidens, S. madagascariensis and S. squalidus).

Some Senecio species are self-compatible, whereas others exhibit strong self-incompatibility. Interspecific hybridization is common and there are notable examples of recent introgression and hybrid speciation in the genus resulting in the origin of new introgressant taxa, and allopolyploid and homoploid hybrid species. Ecotypic divergence is also marked in some species (e.g. S. lautus and S. vulgaris), raising questions on how new species originate via ecological speciation.

Because Senecio species are now being used to investigate a wide range of questions in ecology and evolution in different labs around the world, several labs thought it desirable to establish a network to enhance collaborative research and to access and exchange valuable information and resources. This led to the first meeting of the network in August 2010 (Programme & Abstracts) and to the establishment of this website.

Plant Resources

Senecio eboracensis

Lendal Bridge site, York, where S. eboracensis once grew

Senecio eboracensis a new allotetraploid species discovered in York in 1979 is now extinct in the wild. Seed of this species is stored in Kew's Millenium Seed Bank. Enquiries should be directed to the UK Collections Coordinator, Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, Millenium Seed Bank, Wakehurst Place, Ardingly, West Sussex RH17 6TN.

Genome Resources

SenecioDB is an online database curated at the University of Bristol which currently hosts in excess of 11,000 ESTs from floral and leaf tissue of five Senecio taxa.

The draft genome sequence of Senecio squalidus is being produced using several different sequencing approaches through a collaboration between the Hiscock (Bristol) and Filatov (Oxford) labs. More details to appear soon.

Genetic maps of S. squalidus and its parent species, S. aethnensis and S. chrysanthemifolius, are being produced by Adrian Brennan (Edinburgh) and Richard Abbott (St Andrews) using SSR and AFLP markers. Work to expand and improve these maps is being carried out by Dmitri Filatov (Oxford) and Mark Chapman (Southampton).

Network Meetings

The First Senecio Research Network meeting was held at St Andrews University, UK, on 20 August 2010. Programme & Abstracts. You can view pdfs of presentations given by speakers at the meeting by clicking on their names in the following list: